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If you wish to communicate with me about steam train jigsaws and/or related railway art, or to respond to requests for answers to my queries, please email David, at : platt.precology@gmail.com

Monday 31 March 2014

Steam with other forms of Transport

In this post, 31st March 2014, I am using three pictures of jigsaws each featuring a steam train with other forms of transport. The first jigsaw represented is a current issue whilst the others are older.



In this jigsaw puzzle Kevin Walsh's artwork includes a classic red sports car with driver and passenger contrasted with a farmer driving a blue tractor attached to a hay-filled cart. London & North Eastern Railway (LNER) ‘A1’ class 4-6-2, No.4472 Flying Scotsman is pictured hauling a long rake of teak coaches somewhere on the East Coast Main Line. The 1000-piece puzzle from Falcon, titled Wartime Summer,  depicts an “oasis” in WWII Britain. However, the summer tranquil scene is interrupted by two Spitfire fighter planes, reminding everyone beneath of the reality. Two boys and three dogs complete the picture and leave little space for further inclusions.





Picture number two shows a small 20-piece wooden puzzle from Tower Press's Little Folk series. The jigsaw is titled The Express Train. Pictured is a huge London Midland & Scottish Railway (LMS) 'Princess Coronation' class 4-6-2, No.46245 City of London hauling a rake of British Railways (BR) carmine and cream passenger coaches beneath a road bridge. On the bridge is a single-decked bus and above that is a helicopter, one of the few jigsaws to depict this type of transport. Three children are included as spectators to add that special human interest to the composition. The artist is not named.




A Falcon 500-piece jigsaw, titled Underneath the Arches is featured in this picture, showing a typical town centre scene (c1950's) dominated by a large bridge. Single and double decked buses, cars and a small blue van are included  in the busy scene with a BR Eastern Region 'K3' class 2-6-0 locomotive No.61914 passing over the bridge with a passenger service. The early 'cycling' lion' motif on the tender suggests a date between 1948 and 1956 for the subjects in David Wright's artwork. Several people and an iconic red telephone box are included in David's illustrative style. 
I have received the following information (November 2020), from one of our followers, Roy Lancaster, which describes the location in this jigsaw perfectly."Coming across the 31st March 2014 posting, the photograph shouted Derby Friargate bridge to me. There is a very similar photograph hanging on the pub wall where I drink before Derby County matches. I was initially put off by the B1 locomotive as I cannot recall seeing any Eastern Region locomotives during my times train spotting on Derby Midland station. Further research revealed that Derby Friargate was part of the Great Northern extension to Burton and Stafford. The bridge is now grade two listed. Offiler's Ales was a well known Derby brew".
I am indebted to Roy for this information. He has also sent in a pic of the bridge. Researchinng the jigsaw you assemble, is a vtal part of the hobby. I have also checked out the locomotive a little more and it does seem small for a 'B1' 4-6-0. It is more likely to be a 'K3' class 2-6-0. Any offers?